I am an immigrant, a legal one in fact, through huge amounts of toil, a massive random act of kindness bestowed upon me , 10 years of wishes, over 10 000 dollars for lawyers and visa fees , desperation, sacrifice and prayer. I know I am one lucky girl to have that, I also know that most immigrants do NOT have access to the resources and love that allowed me to become a permanent resident of my adopted country. I also know I could 'look' like an illegal/undocumented alien (such a disgusting term btw) , I have olive skin, many people mistake me for an hispanic person (and let's face it, they are the people this law is aimed at, they are the people that the far right of our land has decided to target, to pour their unfounded, illogical hatred into destroying, they have managed to legislate fear, in the same way South Africans legislated racism with the introduction of apartheid. They are making hatred and ignorance legal.
The fact is I would be under threat in Arizona as would many of my friends... my AMERICAN friends! Everyone in Arizona is required to have proof of papers now, it sounds alarmingly like the pass laws in SA!! I have a green card and the law states I should NOT carry it on my person unless traveling out of the country, I guess I will have to think of Arizona as a foreign country now.
Shame on you guys, shame on the legislators who said nothing for fear of political reprisal , you KNOW it is wrong, you know it is heinous and revolting, yet you are cowards and won't stand up for what is morally right, it is that simple. Do better!
Fear not, my friend! The AZ law is against federal law, and the state will get the pants sued right off of them. There's no way it will last. I understand the xenophobia-inspired hatred is strong and terrifying, but I do think that federal law will trump it in the end.
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